Thursday, Michael Cuddyer will be among several Rockies’ players, including relievers Rex Brothers and Adam Ottavino, who will visit hospitalized victims of the Aurora theater shooting. Cuddyer spoke Wednesday about why it was important for the Rockies to reach out.

Jerry Schemmel knows about loss and finding perspective in the darkest times. The KOA announcer survived the crash of United Flight 232 on July 19, 1989. The plane’s engine exploded an hour into the flight from Denver to Chicago, causing a crash landing in Sioux City, Iowa, killing 112 passengers. Schemmel rides 112 miles on the anniversary to honor the victims.

He hopes that by sharing his story at a healing workshop Thursday night at the DoubleTree Hotel at 13696 East Iliff Place in Aurora he can help some of the victims and families of the theater shootings. It begins at 7:30 p.m. The workshop will focus on “Living after Tragedy” and is open to the public.

KOA producer Mike Rotolo, a survivor of the 1999 Columbine High School tragedy, will also talk about his experience. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The Rockies are planning to visit hospitalized victims Thursday afternoon, their first day back since a gunman shot up an Aurora theater, claiming 12 lives and injuring 58 people.

For more information about the healing workshop, email edbkahn@comcast.net.

PHOENIX — The Rockies awoke to the horrible news Friday that a lone gunmen had killed 12 people and injured 58 at an Aurora theater. The Rockies paid tribute to the victims that night by wearing purple jerseys, black wristbands and hanging a black jersey in the dugout with “We Remember 7-20” sewn on the back in silver letters.

Thursday, their first day back since the tragedy, the Rockies will visit victims at area hospitals, according to manager Jim Tracy. The details are still being ironed out, but Tracy said it’s important for the Rockies to lend support.

“It’s not going to bring those people back. We just want them to know that last weekend in San Diego that our hearts went out to them. And still are going out to them,” Tracy said. “When something like this happens, you need the community to come together and for us to be a small part of it is extremely important.

Multiple players have said over the last few days that they want to reach out to the victims.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.